SKY Sport is opting out of pay-per-view boxing presentations after a troubled spell with the sport.

Wladimir Klitschko and David Haye did not set pulses racing in their bout []

A dispute with Amir Khan’s management and two disappointing features starring David Haye have persuaded Sky to pull out of more pay-as-you-watch deals.

Khan’s big fight in the United States against Zab Judah was switched to Primetime when Sky became unconvinced about charging to watch the fight.

Dull fights involving Haye against Audley Harrison and Vladimir Klitschko also gave Sky Sport food for thought and they decided it is expecting too much of an audience who pay a significant monthly subscription to shell-out for individual fights.

“We spend too much time trying to do deals on boxing for a limited return and do not think it’s fair on our audience to ask them to pay more for boxing,” said a senior Sky source.

“That is not to say we will never return to pay-per-view. It’s just not right for us at the moment.”

Sky’s decision will not be welcomed by all promoters but gives others a chance to bring boxing to terrestrial television. Channel Five has had notable success with presentations in recent months.

Meanwhile, former world champion Steve Collins predicts a return to the heady days of the Nineties when he, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank put boxing on the back pages.

Collins insists Carl Froch, Darren Barker and Matthew Macklin could match that illustrious trio and is convinced all three will be world champions this year. Froch is the WBC super middleweight champion and faces a unification clash with Andre Ward in two months, while Barker fights for the WBC middleweight title on October 1 against Sergio Martinez.

Macklin is seeking a re-match with Felix Sturm after his split decision points loss in June for the WBA middleweight crown.

Collins, a world middleweight and super middleweight champion before retiring in 1997, said: “Froch is a superb boxer who hasn’t really had the recognition he deserves.

“He has a great chin, great heart and he can bang. If you have all three, you have a chance. Barker has come from nowhere and will do well to beat Martinez, but I’m convinced he can do it.

“As for Macklin, after his performance against Sturm, where he won by a distance and was robbed, it’s a matter of time before he becomes world champion.

“These are very exciting times for boxing. Back in the Nineties the sports pages seemed to be full of clashes between me and Nigel and me and Eubank. When Nigel fought Chris twice it led the news on TV it was that big. I hope those incredible days return and I think they will with these three.”

Collins, Benn and Michael Watson appear at a Sporting Dinner at the Lancastrian Suite, Gateshead, on Saturday, September 3. Tickets can be obtained on 0191 229 9631.